Two months in and I already understand the hype: Barcelona really is one of the best cities in the world to live. From beautiful beaches to gothic architecture, the city is just…cool. There is a real emphasis on living, experiencing, and enjoying life. The people operate both independently and interdependently to create a vibrant, lively, and caring culture. Now, I’m not saying it’s all sunshine and puppies all the time (in fact, I haven’t seen many puppies), but I can say it lives up to the hype.
The City
I’ve never really been a city guy. I’ve always lived in small(er) towns. My perception of cities is pretty limited to Los Angeles, which is a poorly-designed, over-inhabited clusterf*** in Southern California. So, moving to Barcelona, expectations were pretty low! But Barcelona has quickly changed that perception.
For a city that was established well before cars, it is designed remarkably well. The overall layout is a grid, so navigation is relatively straight-forward. The streets are clean, and the public transportation is excellent. I am a huge fan of the subway system (aka the “metro”). Like when people ask what my favorite part of Barcelona is, I tell them the metro (is that weird?). It’s like an underground labyrinth of secret passageways that take you wherever you want to go! And sometimes where you don’t want to go…I need to pay better attention.
Small businesses are everywhere. Unlike California where you need to turn 10 tables an hour to afford rent, many restaurants here have 6 or 7 tables TOTAL. Corner stores aren’t allowed to sell tobacco, lottery tickets, or gasoline, yet they are still thriving on every street corner. There are stores dedicated to selling only meat, bread, or fruits & vegetables. And it works!
The city is clean. Aside from the occasional whiff of sewage, the streets are very well kept. The street art is super cool (not graffiti…street art). The buildings are beautiful. Each part of the city (“barrio”) has its own vibe. Plus, there is tons to do and see right outside the city. Beaches line the east. Mountains surround the north, west, and south. Everything you need!
The Culture
The stereotype that Spain is much more “relaxed” is definitely true; however, it doesn’t mean lazy. The vast majority of people work…they just don’t necessarily live to work. They work to live. There seems to be less emphasis placed on money and social class (granted, I just moved from Orange County, California which is notoriously bourgie AF). Most people here live on a moderately low salary and are completely contempt. They do their part, operate within their means, and leave a relatively small carbon footprint. In general, people do not desire more than they need. It’s what an American may call a “minimalist” lifestyle. I have started adapting to this refreshing mentality.
The culture in Barcelona is very inclusive and judgement-free. Nobody seems to care what you’re wearing, what you look like, or who you want to hop in bed with. Save the judgement for when you’re at home trolling on social media! (Totally kidding, internet trolling is the f***ng worst.)
Drinking and smoking take on a different stigma here. The legal drinking and smoking age is 18. Both are much more casual and socially accepted. You can find people drinking cañas (draft beers) during any part of the day, and smoking is still very much the norm. “Drinking” isn’t a term reserved for Saturday night debauchery. You can have a drink or two whenever you want. It’s less of a “drink to get drunk” mindset, and more of a “let’s take a moment to relax and appreciate life.”
The People
The people here are well put together – they dress well, appear healthy (very few are overweight), and are friendly. Ages range across the board, but young adults seem to be the most prominent demographic. In the smaller barrios, there are more families, children, and older demographics.
Barcelona is very open to the international community. People from all over the world are drawn to Barcelona’s vibrant and inclusive lifestyle. Most people speak at least 2-3 languages with English being one of them. While you may run into locals that aren’t big fans of foreigners (which is true in any country), the overall attitude is accepting and understanding of the international community. This probably goes for all of Europe, where there are many different languages spoken across countries.
In conclusion…first impression is a good one. Stay tuned to see how things unfold.
Interested in moving to Spain but not sure where to start? Check out my Moving to Spain Checklist for tips.
